Chapter 14

Fourteen

EMORY

"Can I talk to you for a few, man?"

Rhodes wipes the sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand and glances around the emptying locker room before giving me a subtle flick of his chin. I take that as his version of yes, so I wait a little longer, and when most of my teammates are gone, I turn and face my captain, who is impatiently leaning against the lockers with his arms crossed.

He raises his eyebrows at me.

"Do you think this team has potential?"

Rhodes narrows his gaze. He's trying to figure me out, likely wondering where this conversation is headed, but nonetheless, he takes the bait. "Two months ago? No. But now?" He shrugs. "Maybe."

I nod and rub the back of my sore shoulders before really getting down to the nitty-gritty. "I want to help bring this team's reputation back up."

Rhodes chuckles. "I think you brought it down another level when you were signed."

True.

"I think I have a plan to help my reputation, which will hopefully lead to helping the team's reputation."

Rhodes sighs. "I can't wait to hear this."

The only person who is aware of my proposal to Scottie is Ford, which in turn means Ford and Taytum, who is probably having a goddamn fit over the idea. That or they've come up with some bet to see how long it lasts until it blows up in my face. Rhodes is the captain of the team. If I have his approval, I know he'll help get the team in check if they happen to recognize her. Scottie is a bit of a mystery. I couldn't find her on social media, but that doesn't mean no one will recognize her, with or without the red hair and stripper pole.

"I'm getting married."

Rhodes blinks. I give it a few more seconds, and nope, that's the only response I get.

"I'm getting married to help my reputation and to hopefully stop the rumors. The random women spewing lies about me has to end. They're showing up at my house, and the media is running with every fucking lie, painting me to be some crazed monster with a bad temper who mishandles women. Our team is full of misfits," I say. "And after getting to know the guys and learning their skills on the ice, it's completely fucked. We can be good. We don't have to be the joke of the pros. Because believe it or not, we are."

I pause and wait to see if Rhodes has anything to add. The only thing he does is blink again, but I swear I can see his wheels turning.

"I need your help, though," I add.

Rhodes pushes off the lockers and squares his shoulders. "Let me ask you something."

I nod.

"Are you truly trying to rebuild this team's rep, or are you only worried about yourself and where you're going to go after your contract ends?"

"Both," I answer truthfully. "But who knows, maybe I'll stay here if we can get our shit together."

I feel like a child, like I'm asking for his permission. My chest fills with hope and desperation while I wait for him to grunt something out. He's either going to confirm that I'm absolutely fucking crazy, or he's going to jump on the crazy train with me.

"Why are you asking me?" he finally asks, taking a seat on the bench.

I sigh. "Because you're the captain. These guys worship you."

"But what does it have to do with you getting married?" Rhodes shakes his head. "I didn't even know you had a girlfriend."

Here we go. "That's the thing. I don't."

Silence fills the locker room. Everyone is gone, but with our two personalities in the same room, it's jam-packed with tension.

"Well, then…" He shakes his head. "Yeah. I don't get it."

"It's a contract marriage."

I snap to attention when Rhodes laughs. It's a deep sort of rumble, but he throws his head back and continues to cackle. I glare, and he shakes his head. "That's a terrible idea. You're even crazier than I thought."

"I pay her, and she'll act like my wife. She'll come to the games and sit with the other wives, post all that ridiculous relationship bullshit on my socials, be by my side for a few events…" I shrug because, truly, what could go wrong?

"It'll at least silence the media and their constant fixation on my personal life. Fixing my reputation is one step closer to fixing this team's reputation." When our eyes catch, I add more to help my case. "Think about it. No one takes this team seriously, but imagine when we continue to dominate, and they realize they were wrong about us. Players are going to want to be on this team instead of being forced onto it."

Rhodes thinks for a few moments, and I check the time. It's almost one, and I have a feeling that my new fiancée is punctual. Not that I mind making her wait a little. It's good to let her sweat some.

"This is going to end badly," he says.

I cock a brow. "Does that mean you're on board?"

Rhodes stands and grabs his bag. When he starts to walk past me, he pauses, and his subtle nod is the only answer I need. "Tell me what you need me to do, but when it ends up like I know it will, don't come running to me for help."

My lip lifts. "You should have more faith in your goalie."

He gives me a once-over. "What do you need me to do?"

"Just make sure the rest of the team goes along with it if they recognize her."

Rhodes rolls his eyes, and I'm pretty sure he mumbles something under his breath before walking out of the locker room.

I grab my shit and head in the same direction because there's a contract that needs signing.

I was right.

Scottie is waiting for me with a cute little scowl on her face. There's a chill in the air that whips at the ends of her hair, sending the long strands flying behind her, giving way to her tense shoulders.

"Glad you could make it," I say, approaching my car.

Scottie pushes off my driver's side door, and I have to keep myself from smirking at the sound of her girly growl. "You're late."

"And yet, you still waited," I retort. "Just drives my point further."

Scottie steps away when I reach around her to open my car. She smells like honey and something sweet. I don't like it.

"What point?" she asks.

I grip my door, half inside the driver's seat. "That you're just as desperate as I thought."

A gasp escapes her mouth.

I keep my cocky grin to myself and flick my chin to the passenger side. "Get in."

She mumbles something about me opening the car door for her, and I chuckle. If this were a date, I'd be a gentleman and do exactly that. But as of right now, the contract isn't signed, and there isn't a single person around to witness anything. I have approximately twenty minutes until I have to act like her husband.

When we're both enclosed inside my car, I feel like I'm being suffocated by her sweet scent. It fucks with my head for a few seconds before she clears her throat, and I regain consciousness.

Right . Contract.

"I have to say…" I get comfortable in my seat, spreading my legs out some while giving her the side-eye. "I'm not surprised to see you showed up."

Scottie stares at me, looking so tiny in the passenger seat. At first, she seems angry, maybe even a little offended. But I can see right through her stony glare. There's a softness there. Something sad…and fragile.

It messes with my head just like the smell of her perfume lingering around the interior of my car does.

Quickly, I reach forward and grab the papers I had drawn up by my lawyer. Scottie shifts in her seat and eyes them like they're an invitation to hell, and to her, it very well may be.

We hardly know each other.

She's a stripper with a need for money, and I'm a pro hockey player with a hefty bank account and a desperation for a better reputation.

The top of the contract has the words Marriage of Convenience in bold. A thick swallow works itself down my throat before I drop the papers into her lap.

I hope she's ready to play the game.